Quantum calculation of giant magnetoresistance in layered magnetic films

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We compute the magnetoresistance of a step-potential model of an FeCr multilayer. We use a Boltzmann-equation method incorporating exact quantum-mechanical wave functions obtained by a transfer-matrix method. The only parameters required are the (spin-dependent) potentials and effective masses of the bulk materials, and the bulk and surface densities of point scatterers. Oscillatory magnetoresistances of the order of several percent are obtained without spin-dependent scattering, due to Fermi-surface necking effects.